We have a lot to catch up on after yesterday’s unexcused absence,* so let’s get to it.
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Bad news from San Diego. The wife of the cyclist critically injured by an allegedly drunk and/or high wrong way driver on Fiesta Island says he’s on a breathing machine and fighting for his life; if he survives, he’ll be paralyzed from the waist down.
Sounds like prayers or good wishes are in order, whichever you’re comfortable with.
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The family of fallen randonneur Matthew O’Neill encourages drivers to observe the new three-foot passing law and change lanes to pass a cyclist.
Meanwhile, a website uses video from the Rock Store climb, aka The Snake, to suggest the three-foot law will make driving impossible, even though passing at an unsafe distance has always been illegal; the only thing this law changes is specifying just what a minimum safe distance is. And the rider in question is legally taking the lane on what is clearly a substandard lane.
Bottom line, as a side-by-side comparison of these two stories make clear, observing the three-foot law is a question of safety — that is, someone’s life — versus a minor inconvenience to impatient motorists.
I know which side I fall on.
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This could be a big step forward in bike safety, as a new reflector tricks the Crash Avoidance System found in many new cars into seeing a cyclist or pedestrian as being closer or larger than they really are. The makers are looking for a strategic partner to help bring it to the right markets; this could be a great investment for someone with the right knowledge.
And yes, I want one. Now.
Thanks to new ROAD Magazine editor Chris Klibowitz for the heads-up.
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Time to loosen up those wallets. The Kickstarter for BikinginLA sponsor AnyKicks has just over $18,000 to raise with two weeks to go.
Let’s push ’em over the top and show bike shops and manufacturers that advertising on here really works. And fund a deserving project while we’re at it.
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Evidently, the nut doesn’t fall far from the tree, either. The father of the teenage driver who got off using the affluenza defense was arrested last month for impersonating a police officer.
If you’ll recall, his 16-year old spawn got away with killing four people in an under-aged drunken crash when the judge agreed his parents were too rich for him to be expected to take responsibility for his own actions.
Thanks to the Witch on a Bicycle for the link.
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Elia Viviani wins the fourth stage of the USA Pro Challenge after retiring rider Jens Voigt fades after a 40 km solo breakaway; that other famous bike rider from my hometown keeps the leader’s jersey.
Is it just me, or is there less interest in the Pro Challenge this year? There seems to be a lot less press coverage this time around. Except for the drunk driver who somehow made it onto the closed course.
Italy’s economic woes lead to the merger of the Cannondale/Liquigas and Slipstream teams. And Vavel previews the first seven stages of the Vuelta, along with the seven that follow.
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LocalBoyle Heights residents worry the new Eastside extension of the Downtown CicLAvia route will lead to increased gentrification, while LA’s incredibly popular open streets event officially comes to the San Fernando Valley next March.
A ride marshal is ticketed — and may have been intentionally doored by police — for running a red light on the Clitoral Mass ride.
The LA Times looks at the new Timbuk2 store on Abbot Kinney in Venice.
Sweet Ride USA invites you to explore the intersection of bikes and sweets in Little Tokyo this Saturday. The Santa Monica Museum of Arts’ Tour Da Arts rolls on Sunday, as does the LACBC’s Sunday Funday ride through Carson.
A chef famed around the world for his cuisine and temper gets his new bike on at Cynergy.
The bike friendly Fiesta La Ballona takes place in Culver City this weekend.
LACBC local chapter Bike Walk Glendale sponsors Operation Firefly to give free bike lights to riders without them.
State
The state legislature passes a bill allowing local jurisdictions to tack an extra $5 onto vehicle registration fees to fund bicycle infrastructure. But what are the chances of actually getting 2/3 of drivers to tax themselves to fund bike projects?
Laguna Beach votes to explore ways to ease congestion and improve bike and pedestrian access on Laguna Canyon Road.
The Bike League profiles BikeSD’s own Sam Ollinger, who has quickly risen to become one of the leading bike advocates — not women’s bike advocate, thank you — in the US.
An Ohio man pleads no contest in the alleged DUI hit-and-run that took the life of a Chico State cyclist.
The EPA honors a 116-mile bike path from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake; when a new segment opens, it will be 75% complete.
National
CNN asks if Lance’s lies and bullying can be forgiven. The former, maybe; the latter, not so much.
Protected bike lanes are rapidly spreading throughout the US.
Our own Boyonabike looks at riding in bike friendly Portlandia.
Life is cheap in Utah, when not even killing a bike riding judge while driving distracted is enough to get authorities to take traffic crime seriously, as the driver gets off with a lousy $670 fine and six months probation.
Seventy-year old basketball great Rick Barry is slowly recovering from a bad solo bike crash in Colorado.
University of Chicago Hospitals illegally applies stickers to discourage legal bike parking.
A New York cyclist is fined $675 and loses her drivers license for running a red light on her bike and not having a bell — $5 more than some states fine drivers for killing someone.
The Washington Post asks if bike riders should be allowed to roll stop signs. The obvious answer is yes, but good luck convincing most motorists. And voters.
International
A writer for the Vancouver Sun says bike lanes will do more to protect cyclists than helmets.
Toronto authorities exonerate a local police department on accusations that they whitewashed a case involving the wife of an officer who killed a cyclist. Even though they failed to test the driver for drugs or alcohol and allowed her to drive home while the investigation at the scene was still ongoing.
Northern Ireland plans a two week bicycling festival.
Caught on video: An Edinburgh cyclist learns first hand the dangers of getting a wheel caught in tram tacks.
Finally…
Caught on video: Sometimes it’s the other riders you have to watch out for. It doesn’t even take a whole car to send a cyclist to the hospital; sometimes, a stray part is enough.
And Gizmodo looks at seven bikes that, thankfully, didn’t change bicycling forever.
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*My apologies for missing yesterday’s post, as well as a few others in recent weeks. I try to post every weekday; however, while my diabetes is officially under control, I’m still having major health problems that may or may not be related, and which leave me largely incapacitated for much of the day — and have kept me off my bike for the better part of two months. Most days, I’m able to rally long enough to get a new post online, but others — like yesterday — find me down for the count.
Hopefully, my doctors will finally figure out what’s going on, and this too shall pass.
Actually the article about Matthew O’Neill’s family states that they would like to see the 3FP law amended to allow crossing a double-yellow line on a 2-lane road to pass a cyclist.
What we really need is a law that all motorists MUST change lanes fully to pass a cyclist, just as when passing a motorcycle or another vehicle. 3FP laws need to go away, and be replaced with change lanes to pass laws, or include bicycles specifically in other laws that already exist regarding safe passing.
3FP laws invite motorists to try to pass unsafely, at times when they really should not, such as when there is traffic oncoming. Motorists seem to forget they have a brake pedal and can slow down for a few seconds before they are able to pass safely.
Also as I understand it, CA’s new 3FP law is especially bogus because there’s an exception that basically states that motorists are NOT required to give 3 feet if there is oncoming traffic or other hazards, I believe it says.
I agree the new three-foot law leaves a lot to be desired. As you point out, it does not allow drivers to briefly cross a double yellow line, as similar laws do in other states, thanks to the veto of an earlier, better version of the bill.
And if does contain an ill-advised exemption allowing allowing drivers to pass at less than three feet if they slow down and pass carefully, whatever that means.
And apparently not everyone in Oregon is bike friendly, as this cyclist is told to “eat shit” when trying to explain why he is riding in the lane, away from parked cars and out of the door zone.
The 3FP law should really be more about making people be aware and slow down. It seems that traffic is just getting faster and more distracted.
The snake up near the rock store is about the most distracted riding you will see a motorcyclist do. On the curve there is a bunch of photographers getting riders to watch the birdy, or wave for a stupid photo op while not watching the curve, im sure there is a wipe out every few days there.
There was a video of a motorcyclist taking out a bicyclist while doing it a few months back.
[…] Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Sad Fiesta Island news, for and against the 3-foot law, and a new reflector could sto… […]
bikingla, does the Carlos family know definitely if he going to be paralyzed for life? The reason I ask is they said the same thing about Olympic swimmer Amy Van Dyken. She too was seriously injured resulting in paralysis. Now she’s already taking her first steps.
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/08/amy-van-dyken-rouen-first-steps
Also, they said the same thing about high school sub four minute miler/runner, Lukas Verzbicas who was paralyzed in a cycling accident and he too has recovered to compete in triathlons (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxSDJuowJRI). So to the Carlos family prayers and there is always hope for Juan. Let’s keep him in our prayers!
As you say, there is always hope. I don’t think anyone has said conclusively his condition is permanent, though it’s not looking good. But I am a firm believer in the power of prayer.
I do cycle on narrow roads like the one in the video, and the lead rider is obstructing traffic. He has more than five vehicles backed up. Saying he can’t pull over and stop to let traffic go by because there’s no turnout for motor vehicles is ridiculous, I can see plenty of room on the side of the road, and the other riders behind him are much more polite and letting traffic go by.
That road is not “scary” at all–try taking Hwy 70/89 up Spanish Creek from the Feather River in Northern California with a loaded touring bike and you hear a semi growling up the winding climb behind you. In that case, there’s no shoulder, only a low rock wall between the road and a fall down the cliff into the canyon. A little common sense and courtesy, and the truck will wait to pass safely- Purposely blocking the road will enrage drivers.